The Inheritor

My review was written in June 1990 after watching the movie on Vidamerica video cassette.

Lensed two years ago, "Inheritor" is a dull supernatural horror pic released direct-to-video.

Its Wisconsin locations and strained tale of an ancient Indian curse suggest the work of horror/regional writer August Derleth, but Julian Weaver's script is way too talky and static to develop the desired atmosphere.

Lisa McGuire toplines as twin sisters: Marybeth, who dies before the film begins but lingers in flashbacks on her corpse; and Allison, called to Windsor Lake as part of the investigation of sis' demise.

John Rice is the bland young police sergeant investigating Marybeth's suspicious heart attack, while Barnaby Spring is miscast as the chief suspect, whose ancestor, a minister named Proctor (John Russo), also was up to no good.

There's plenty of exposition and poorly done flashbacks until the revelation that Proctor killed sacred buffalo and was slapped with a curse. Idiotic and sometimes cryptic climax features a minotaur for no good reason. Acting is very tired, especially guest star Dan Haggerty's turn as a local doctor. Lead McGuire is used mainly as decoration.